Steel Never Loves

ntro — lone mournful cello] Cold stone presses at my back, Cold iron holds these shackles fast. I’ve sent a thousand to the dark— And now they’ve come for me at last. [Verse I] No jeweled dagger in my hand, No saber answers my command. No coin, no contract left to earn, No final move, no safe return. I trusted steel and trusted skill, The steady hand, the certain kill. No friend could leave, no love betray, When both were things I cast away. [Pre-Chorus I] I made myself what I became, No guilt to bear, no one to blame. A perfect edge, a simple creed: Want nothing more than what you need. [Chorus I] Steel never lies, steel never leaves, It asks no faith, it never grieves. No whispered vows, no promises made— I placed my trust within the blade. Steel never loves, steel never fears, It cannot wound you through the years. Let others kneel and others pray— I chose the blade. I chose my way. [Verse II] Then lavender eyes challenged mine, Twin blades met mine in perfect time. He carried bonds I cast aside, Yet matched me still with every stride. At last I watched my mirror fall, Into the dark beneath us all. I thought his death would prove me right— So why recall those eyes tonight? [Pre-Chorus II] I won the answer I had sought, Or so the victor should have thought. Yet victory left one question still: What had I proven with the kill? [Chorus II] Steel never lies, steel never leaves, So why does memory deceive? I killed the doubt, I won the fight— Yet lavender eyes return tonight. Steel never loves, steel never fears, Then why have ghosts survived the years? I chose the blade, I chose alone— And still his question followed home. [Bridge — music falls away, faint flute] There— That cursed melody again. No flute is playing in this place, Yet still its song invades my mind. A feathered hat. A mocking face. A trust I should have left behind. We walked through hell and shared the fight, Two shadows moving side by side. I let him through the walls I’d raised— And learned again what trust provides. [Dark Reprise — flute beneath cello] Perhaps the boy already knew What trusting hands would someday do. Before a dagger knew my name, He learned that trust and hurt were same. [Verse III] And now the darkest blade is gone, Its hungry edge no longer drawn. They wanted what I thought I’d earned— The ancient blade has now returned. I thought that sword belonged to me. Perhaps that’s life’s last irony. The blade I mastered brought me here, And death, at least, is drawing near. [Final Chorus — full band] Steel never lies, steel never leaves— A fool finds comfort in beliefs. I built these walls to stand alone, And made their emptiness my home. Steel never loves, steel never grieves— Yet still that cursed melody breathes. The blade was faithful to the end— It was the man I called a friend. [Outro — all instruments fall away; opening cello melody returns] Footsteps. Keys. They’re coming now. I’ve dealt in death my whole damned life. Let’s see what death has learned of mine.